SEC REAR AXLE AND CONTENTS f Rear Axle Rear Suspension Special Tools REA II Page General Description 4 1 Maintenance and Adjustments 4 3 Rear Axle Noise Diagnosis 4 3 Gear Noise 4 4 Bearing Noise 4 4 Service Operations 4 4 Service Reference Guide 4 4 Differential Carrier in Vehicle 4 4 Drive Shaft and Universal Joints 4 4 Differential Side Bearing Yoke Replacement 4 5 Side Bearing Adjusting Sleeve 4 6 Seal Replacement 4 6 Differential Carrier Removal and Installation from Vehicle 4 6 Differential Carrier Removed from Vehicle 4 6 Separation of Three or Four Speed Transmission and Differential Carrier 4 6 Assembly of Three or Four Speed Transmission and Differential Carrier 4 6 Separation of Automatic Powerglide Transmission and Differential Carrier 4 8 Assembly of Automatic Powerglide Transmission and Differential Carrier 4 6 Differential Carrier Disassembly 4 8 Inspection 4 9 Repairs Manual and Automatic Transmission Axles 4 9 Pinion and or Bearing Replacement 4 9 Including Pinion Depth Shim Determination 4 9 Pinion Front Bearing Race Replacement 4 12 Side Bearing Adjusting Sleeve Seal Replacement 4 12 GENERAL The rear axle is of the straddle mounted hypoid gear type which embodies a differential carrier mounted rigidly to the engine no rear axle housing is used figs 1 and 2 Independently suspended drive shafts are attached by universal joints at the wheel drive spindle flange and at the differential side gear yoke A hollow shaft is used with the drive pinion to permit passage of the engine output shaft forward to the transmission To permit the axial hole in the pinion shaft the drive pinion and gear are two pieces coupled by a shrink fit The pinion gear and shaft are serviced only as an assembly The drive pinion shaft is directly connected to the transmission output member Preloaded tapered roller bearings support the drive pinion at fore and aft locations in the differential carrier The hypoid ring gear is bolted to the differential case which is mounted by preloaded tapered roller bearings on e a c h side of the differential carrier TION 4 REAR SUSPENSION F THIS SECTION Page 4 1 4 24 4 33 R AXLE MEX Page Side Bearing Adjusting Sleeve Bearing Race Replacemmt 4 12 Ring Gear Replacement Differeatial Side Bearing Replacement and Differential Overhaul 4 13 Repairs Manual Transmission Axles Only 4 15 Clutch Release Bearing Shaft Seal Replacement 4 15 Clutch Release Bearing Shaft and or Pinion Rear Bearing Race Replacement 4 15 Repairs Automatic Transmission Axles Only 4 16 Pinion Shaft Front 0i1 Seal and or Converter Hub Oil Seal Replacement 4 16 Pinion Shaft Rear Off Seal Replacement 4 16 Pinion Shaft Bushing Replacement 4 16 Stator Shaft and or Pinion Rear Bearing Race Replacement 4 lg Assembly of Differential Carrier 4 17 Ring Gear and Pinion Bearing Adjustments 4 18 Ring Gear to Pinion Backlash Adjustment 4 19 Ring Gear and Pinion Contact Pattern 4 19 Positraction Differential 4 21 Positraction Preload Check On the Vehicle 4 21 Disassembly 4 22 Inspection 4 22 Assembly 4 23 Clutch Pack Preload Test On the Bench 4 23 ASCRIPTION Components of the differential assembly are conventional with the exception of the side gears which have integral elongated splined hubs which project to the outboard extremity of the differential case and cover to receive the axle shaft universal joints Rear axle a s s e m b 1 i e s used with three or four speed transmissions and those used with automatic transmissions have fundamental differences in lubrication drive pinion design and mounting hub provisions for the clutch release bearing or converter stator respectively Drive pinion design for the two rear axle assemblies varies mostly in overall length splining for adaptation to the transmission and sealing The manual transmission axle pinion shaft extends forward only to the pinion bearing adjusting sleeve and is internally splined to receive the transmission output shaft On automatic transmission versions the pinion shaft extends forward beyond